Post by Macmoish on Jul 1, 2011 7:25:50 GMT
Birmingham Mail/Paul Stuart
Mumsnet blasts Aston Villa over price of junior kit
A PARENTS’ group has accused Aston Villa of ripping off supporters – with the cost of a junior kit topping the Premier League.
The price of a new Villa away strip for an eight-year-old, including shirt, shorts and socks, is £63 – jointly the highest of any of the top-flight clubs.
Mumsnet has written to Villa and other top flight clubs to ask if the kits can be made more affordable for parents, many of whom already fork out for season tickets, matchday costs and other merchandise.
Katie O’Donovan, Mumsnet’s head of communications, said: “Kits are estimated to cost about £9 each to manufacture but are being sold for £60-odd which is a huge mark up.
“It seems Villa, and other clubs, are taking advantage of the good will of parents who do not want to be the ones to say no to their children. We have written to all the Premier League clubs asking for them to take action and cut their prices.”
John Greenfield, Villa’s merchandising director, hit out at the group for misleading the public with incorrect figures.
He added: “A little kid’s kit, for three to eight-year-olds, is only £35 which is very reasonable.
“The cost of a compete boy’s small strip, for eight to 12-year-olds, is £63 but there are discounts offered to season ticket holders, junior Villans and travel club members.
“Our chairman and owner is very conscious of the supporters and will always look at the supporters’ corner in a sympathetic way.”
Mr Greenfield said the new Villa shirts, made by Nike, are manufactured out of recycled water bottles.
Mumsnet researched the cost of new replica junior kits in response to a survey of 1,000 football-mad parents in which 97 per cent said merchandise was poor value for money and 78 per cent said it was a rip-off.
Of the 16 top-flight clubs to have released new replica strips for eight-year-old fans, Mumsnet found Villa’s to be the most expensive alongside Manchester City. The Wolves junior strip came in at £52, the second cheapest, while the Baggies’ kit had not been released at the time of the survey.
www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/aston-villa-fc/aston-villa-news/2011/07/01/mumsnet-blasts-villa-over-price-of-junior-kit-97319-28966101/#ixzz1QpuM8hUC
Mumsnet blasts Aston Villa over price of junior kit
A PARENTS’ group has accused Aston Villa of ripping off supporters – with the cost of a junior kit topping the Premier League.
The price of a new Villa away strip for an eight-year-old, including shirt, shorts and socks, is £63 – jointly the highest of any of the top-flight clubs.
Mumsnet has written to Villa and other top flight clubs to ask if the kits can be made more affordable for parents, many of whom already fork out for season tickets, matchday costs and other merchandise.
Katie O’Donovan, Mumsnet’s head of communications, said: “Kits are estimated to cost about £9 each to manufacture but are being sold for £60-odd which is a huge mark up.
“It seems Villa, and other clubs, are taking advantage of the good will of parents who do not want to be the ones to say no to their children. We have written to all the Premier League clubs asking for them to take action and cut their prices.”
John Greenfield, Villa’s merchandising director, hit out at the group for misleading the public with incorrect figures.
He added: “A little kid’s kit, for three to eight-year-olds, is only £35 which is very reasonable.
“The cost of a compete boy’s small strip, for eight to 12-year-olds, is £63 but there are discounts offered to season ticket holders, junior Villans and travel club members.
“Our chairman and owner is very conscious of the supporters and will always look at the supporters’ corner in a sympathetic way.”
Mr Greenfield said the new Villa shirts, made by Nike, are manufactured out of recycled water bottles.
Mumsnet researched the cost of new replica junior kits in response to a survey of 1,000 football-mad parents in which 97 per cent said merchandise was poor value for money and 78 per cent said it was a rip-off.
Of the 16 top-flight clubs to have released new replica strips for eight-year-old fans, Mumsnet found Villa’s to be the most expensive alongside Manchester City. The Wolves junior strip came in at £52, the second cheapest, while the Baggies’ kit had not been released at the time of the survey.
www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/aston-villa-fc/aston-villa-news/2011/07/01/mumsnet-blasts-villa-over-price-of-junior-kit-97319-28966101/#ixzz1QpuM8hUC
